Why social connection is your best medicine
Your relationships, if healthy, could be good for your overall wellbeing
We live in a world that prioritises productivity over people. Work deadlines, digital distractions, and busy schedules often push relationships to the sidelines. But here’s what science reveals: your relationships are not a luxury – they’re a health necessity. The strength of your connections is just as vital to your survival as the food you eat and the exercise you do.
In South Africa, where obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders have become leading drivers of death, public health advice typically focuses on diet and exercise. Yet the research shows that our social fitness – the quality and depth of our relationships – directly influences whether we develop chronic disease, manage stress effectively, and live longer, healthier lives.
“Your health is not always predetermined; it’s shaped by the daily choices you make. We see every positive action, especially, those strengthened through relationships, as a powerful investment in long‑term wellbeing,” says Maria Carpenter, Head of Multiply, Momentum Health’s complete wellness rewards programme.
The heavy toll of the “Lone Ranger” mentality
According to a landmark 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) report, loneliness affects 1 in 6 people globally and is linked to approximately 100 deaths every hour. Chronic social isolation is not just a feeling; it is a physiological stressor that elevates blood pressure, increases inflammation, and raises the risk of stroke and heart disease.
It is a startling reality that loneliness is as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. While we often blame work deadlines, the “lone ranger” mentality (or social isolation) is a silent driver of these numbers.
On the other hand, quality relationships act as medicine for both mind and body. Strong social ties are linked to improved immune function, better sleep quality, and increased longevity. When we feel supported, our bodies manage stress more effectively, making us more resilient to the pressures of daily life.
The WHO highlights that social connection is a health imperative, reducing the risk of serious illnesses and promoting mental wellbeing. For women, who often head nearly two in five South African households, prioritising these connections creates a powerful ripple effect that strengthens entire families and communities.
Build better habits through community
One of the greatest benefits of healthy relationships is their ability to anchor healthy behaviours. It is much easier to choose a salad over a burger or a walk over a nap when you have a partner or friend doing it with you. Integrating new behaviours into existing routines, like a weekly walking club or a team lunch, turns effort into lifestyle.
Here’s how you can let your relationships guide you toward better choices:
- Schedule a weekly connection activity. Whether it is a phone call or a coffee, make it non-negotiable.
- Recruit an accountability friend. Use your social circle to stay consistent with your activity and fitness goals.
- Protect your peace together. Share breathing techniques or winding-down rituals with a loved one to lower collective stress levels.
- Track the ripple effect. Note how one connection leads to movement, better sleep and clearer thinking. When you see the pattern, you are more motivated to repeat it.
Carpenter stresses that healthy relationships help build healthy habits: “When you stay socially connected, you’re not just improving your emotional wellbeing, you’re building consistency – and consistency is where real change happens.”
Make connection a health commitment. Start with one meaningful connection and watch how it cascades into better choices across your entire life.
For tools and support that makes wellness a shared journey visit the Multiply website, and get rewarded from day one for every step you take towards better health. By choosing connection, you are not just improving your mood, you are owning your health and gaining the energy to enjoy life.
